Mac Classes – February 2015

Now that June-uary is almost behind us, let's get back to some real winter, shall we? It will also give you a good excuse to come inside for a computer class! On to the details...

Class list for February 2015:

Sat., Feb. 7th, from noon-4 pm: iDevice Photo Management; a four-hour intensive at the Ah Haa School in Telluride. Sign up here.

Sat., Feb. 21st, from 10-noon: Social Networking; at the Ridgway Library.
Wed., Feb. 25th, from 5-7 pm: FREE Mac OS X Overview; Ridgway Library.

Please, let me know if you plan to attend any of these classes; if I get enough commitments ahead of time, I don't have to send out a nagging reminder!

 On Saturday, Feb. 7th, from noon to 4 pm, I'm starting off with another 4-hour intensive at the Ah Haa School in Telluride. I'm calling it iDevice Photo Management. With the arrival of their new mobile operating system and the new Photos app, Apple has begun a new approach to photo management on all their devices.  iOS 8 does not support iPhoto on iPads and iPhones, and iPhoto is being phased out via the new Yosemite operating system. This class will help you get a grip on all aspects of photo management on your “iDevices,” from the new editing tools available within Photos, to the myriad of new (and old, but updated) storage and cataloging tools. We’ll cover everything from the new Lightroom Mobile app to the incredible storage offerings from services like Flickr and Microsoft OneDrive. Lastly, we’ll cover the best techniques for managing your photos across all your devices, including Macs and Windows-based computers, and take a look at some great camera/photo apps. Cost for this class is $65, and you can sign up here.

 Next, on Saturday, Feb. 21st, from 10-noon, I will be revisiting a topic I haven't covered in awhile: Social Networking. If you've been meaning to finally build yourself (or your business, club, etc.) a Facebook page, or try Twitter or the ever-more-popular Instagram, then this class is for you! I will cover those, plus Google+, LinkedIn, and just about anything else you can think of in the social networking realm. The emphasis will be on figuring out how to navigate these popular social sites, especially as the way they work is constantly being updated and changed! At the same time, you'll learn how to maintain the levels of privacy we all prefer. Of course, I will also cover the ways in which these tools can be put to use in marketing a business. Cost for this class is $20, and it will be held at the Ridgway Library. Please let me know in advance if you plan to attend!

 Lastly, my regular last-Wednesday-of-the-month class will happen two weeks early this month, due to the holidays. This month, it's the FREE Mac OS X Overview, and it's on Wednesday, Feb. 25th from 5-7 pm. This class is held in the Library's computer lab. Space is limited, so you have to sign up, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

For the Mac Overview, there are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Take care everyone; I hope to see you at a class one day soon!!

Mac Classes – January 2015

Happy belated New Year everyone! Yes, there are going to be Mac classes on tap this month, I'm just scrambling to keep up, as usual. On to the details...

Class list for January 2015:

Sat., Jan. 17th, from noon-4 pm: Mastering your iPad/iPhone;  Ah Haa School, Telluride (click HERE to sign up)
Sat., Jan. 24th, from 10-noon: iPhoto;  Ridgway Library

Wed., Jan. 28th, from 5-7 pm: FREE iPad/iPhone Overview; Ridgway Library

Please remember to let me know if you plan to attend any of these classes (and the Ah Haa iPad/iPhone class in Telluride on the 17th requires that you sign up in advance at the link above or below); if I get enough commitments ahead of time, I don't have to send out a nagging reminder!

 First off, I'm offering a 4-hour intensive in Telluride on Saturday, Jan. 17th, from noon to 4 pm called Mastering Your iPad/iPhone. Learn how to make full use of your iPad or iPhone, including tips and tricks to make these devices hum, plus the latest and greatest apps to explore. You’ll even find out how to make an iPad do 99% of what a full computer will do, so you can get real work done! This class will cover all aspects of the iPad/iPhone, from a complete tour of the hardware (as well as useful accessories) to an in-depth tour of the software interface, including how an iPad improves on the iPhone/iPod Touch interface. The class will focus primarily on iOS 8’s new bells and whistles, but devices running older iOS 7 software will still be relevant. For seasoned iPad users and those just considering an “iDevice,” this class has something for everyone. Cost is $65, and click HERE to sign up!

 Then, on Saturday, Jan. 24th, from 10 am to noon in the Ridgway Library meeting room, it'll be an old favorite class that I haven't offered in awhile: iPhoto for Mac. Come learn everything there is to know about Apple's powerful digital image organization/editing program. Chances are you're feeling overwhelmed with holiday photos, and maybe feeling like it's finally time to get your photo library under control, with the added bonus of learning how easy (and fun) the process can be! This class will primarily cover the latest version of iPhoto, but will also be relevant for users of older versions. This class is $20, and is open to drop-ins, but please let me know if you plan to attend!

 Lastly, I will be doing my regular last-Wednesday-of-the-month class at the Library. This month, it's the FREE iPad/iPhone Overview, on Wednesday, Jan. 28th from 5-7 pm. This class is held in the Library's small conference room. Space is limited, so you have to sign up, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Take care, and may 2015 hold nothing but the best for everyone!!

Mac Classes – December 2014

Happy December all! A good dose of cold and snow finally arrived, keeping all you snow hounds happy! Now it's back to warmish days and I'm happy too. ;-) As with last month, things are just too busy in December to do more than two classes. Hope you can make one or both! On to the details...

Class list for December 2014:

Sat., Dec. 13th, from 10-noon: Search Smarter!; Ridgway Library

Wed., Dec. 17th, from 5-7 pm: FREE Mac OS X Overview; Ridgway Library

Please remember to let me know if you plan to attend any of these classes; if I get enough commitments ahead of time, I don't have to send out a nagging reminder!

 For my only focused class this month, on Saturday, December 13th, from 10-noon in the Ridgway Library meeting room, I will be covering a new topic: Search Smarter! How many times have you tried to search the internet for something, only to keep hitting a dead end? Or you may have gotten frustrated with the way Google now filters its search results based on your previous search history. Regardless, I can show you a thing or two about how to narrow down a difficult search topic, or find just the right size and format of that image you need for a craft project. Come learn how to be a master web searcher! (Bonus points if you can identify the logo above without doing a search!) Cost for this class is $20, and it will be held at the Ridgway Town Hall.

 Then, my regular last-Wednesday-of-the-month class will happen two weeks early this month, due to the holidays. This month, it's the FREE Mac OS X Overview, and it's on Wednesday, Dec. 17th from 5-7 pm. This class is held in the computer lab. Space is limited, so you have to sign up, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

For the Mac Overview, there are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Take care everyone, and may your holiday be warm and joyful, spent surrounded by the ones you love!!

Mac Classes – November 2014

I'll bet you all were wondering what happened to me this month! In all honesty, I've been struggling to find time for classes in the next couple months. This always happens in November and December, but this year seems especially busy. Anyway, I've once again decided to offer just one Saturday class in November and December, plus the usual free Library classes. Hopefully they'll fit into your busy schedules as well! On to the details...

Class list for November 2014:

Wed., Nov. 19th, from 5-7 pm: FREE iPad/iPhone Overview; Ridgway Library

Sat., Nov. 22nd, from 10-noon: How to Use "Cloud" Storage;  Ridgway Library

Please remember to let me know if you plan to attend any of these classes; if I get enough commitments ahead of time, I don't have to send out a nagging reminder!

 First up this month (for a change), I will be doing my regular last-Wednesday-of-the-month class at the Library. This month, it's the FREE iPad/iPhone Overview, on Wednesday, November 19th from 5-7 pm. This class is held in the Library's small conference room. Space is limited, so you have to sign up, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

          

 Then, on Saturday, November 22nd, from 10 am to noon in the Ridgway Library meeting room, I'm offering a new class I'm calling How to Use"Cloud" Storage. The more we do on our computers, smart phones and tablets, the more important it is that we have it all backed up. And having at least some (if not all) of it available online is extremely helpful to boot. That's where all the various "cloud-based" storage services come in. From Dropbox to Google Drive, iCloud to CrashPlan and Carbonite, how are we to keep it all straight? This class is designed to help you figure it all out... Come discover how to take full advantage of all these tools, and learn how to use them to back up your stuff, as well as access it from all your devices! This class is $20, and it will be held at the Ridgway Library. It's open to drop-ins (but please let me know if you plan to attend).

Take care everyone, and don't worry, it'll be dumping snow any day now!!

Mac Classes – October 2014

Happy fall everyone! It sure has been a gorgeous one, eh? The days are getting cooler, and shorter, and we all have more time to take classes, right? On to the details...

Class list for October 2014:

Sat., Oct. 11th, from 10-noon: Photo Management in iOS8; Ridgway Library
Sat., Oct. 25th, from 10-noon: iPad (& iPhone) File Management;  Ridgway Library

Wed., Oct. 29th, from 5-7 pm: FREE Mac OS X Overview; Ridgway Library

Please remember to let me know if you plan to attend any of these classes; if I get enough commitments ahead of time, I don't have to send out a nagging reminder!

 First off, on Saturday, October 11th, from 10-noon in the Ridgway Library meeting room, I will be covering a new topic: Photo management in iOS8. With the arrival of their new mobile operating system, Apple has begun a new chapter in photo management on all their devices. iPhoto is gone, and all of it's functions have been rolled into the Photos app. When Yosemite comes out sometime this month, iPhoto will be gone from there as well. So it's time to start learning about the new paradigm, right? This class is a perfect companion to the one below, helping you learn how to do more with your mobile devices. It's a new world, come learn all about it! Cost for this class is $20, and it will be held at the Ridgway Town Hall.

          

 Then, on Saturday, October 25th, from 10 am to noon in the Ridgway Library meeting room, I'm once again offering a class I'm calling iPad (& iPhone) File Management. As our iOS devices become more and more powerful (particularly with the advent of the iPhone 6 plus & iOS 8), many folks are doing almost all of their computing on them. And while it's surely possible to make one of them your only device, it's not as easy as it might be to set up. This class will cover all the tools you would want to have on your "iDevice" if you're looking to simplify, as well as tips for how to manage things like document storage and backup. Even if you're not looking to get rid of your main computer, this class will give you lots of insight into how to manage your pictures, music and documents between your computer and your iPad or iPhone. This class is also $20, and it will be held at the Ridgway Town Hall. It's open to drop-ins too (but please let me know if you plan to attend).

 Lastly, I will be doing my regular last-Wednesday-of-the-month class at the Library. This month, it's the FREE Mac OS X Overview, on Wednesday, October 29th from 5-7 pm. This class is held in the computer lab. Space is limited, so you have to sign up, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

For the Mac Overview, there are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Take care everyone, and let's hope we get another few weeks of Indian Summer!!

Mac Classes – September 2014

Labor Day has passed, there's a feeling of fall in the air... I don't know about you, but I'm hoping for a good six weeks of Indian Summer, as well as lots of folks enjoying my classes!

Class list for Sept. 2014:

Sat., Sept. 13th, from 10-noon: Intermediate Facebook Marketing; Ridgway Town Hall
Wed., Sept. 24th, from 5-7 pm: FREE iPhone/iPad Overview; Ridgway Library
Sat., Sept. 27th, from 10-noon: iMovie for Mac; Ridgway Library

The details:

 First up, on Saturday, Sept. 13th, from 10 am to noon, on the heels of the response to last month's Social Media class, I'm offering a new class: Intermediate Facebook Marketing. Whether you run your own business, are involved in a local non-profit, or simply want to know how to use Facebook to get the word out about something you're passionate about, there is no denying the value (and complexity!) of using that tool for your marketing. This class will cover all aspects of creating and managing your Facebook "presence". [Basic understanding of how FB works is suggested but not required.] Cost for this class is $20, and it will be held at the Ridgway Town Hall in the Community Center. Open to drop-ins, so come if you can (but please try to let me know if you plan to attend)!

 Next, I will be doing my regular last-Wednesday-of-the-month class at the Library. This month, it's the FREE Mac iPad/iPhone Overview, on Wednesday, Sept. 24th from 5-7 pm. This class is held in the small meeting room at the Library, and space is limited, so you have to sign up. The Library staff has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

 Lastly, on Saturday, Sept. 27th, from 10 am to noon, since it didn't go last weekend, I'm again offering iMovie on the Mac! With the ubiquity of HD video these days, whether it's from your iPhone, iPad, or your little point-and-shoot, you've likely got lots of video clips that you'd like to turn into a polished project to wow your friends and family. If so, this class is for you! Cost for this class is $20, and it will be held at the Ridgway Library meeting room. As always, it's open to drop-ins, but please let me know if you plan to attend.

Take care everyone. See you in a class sometime soon!

iMovie class cancelled

Not sure how many folks follow this blog closely, but I want to get the word out that I have to cancel the iMovie class originally scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 30th). I only had one person signed up, and it's obvioulsy just too much to try and sandwich into Labor Day weekend. Good news is that I hope to offer it again in September. Stay tuned!

Thanks for understanding,
John